Claypole

With no hotels of its own beyond a handful of rooms above the village pub, Claypole works best as a day-trip stop rather than a hotel base — most visitors choose to stay in nearby Newark-on-Trent or Grantham instead. Both towns are a short drive away and offer a good range of accommodation, from independent guest houses and coaching inns in their historic centres to modern chain hotels handy for the A1. Newark, with its riverside castle, Georgian market square and direct rail links to London, makes a particularly convenient base, putting Claypole, Belton House, Woolsthorpe Manor and Belvoir Castle all within easy reach for a few days of exploring this quiet corner of Lincolnshire. Grantham offers a similar spread of options and sits closer to Belton and Belvoir if those are the priority. Wherever you stay, book ahead for weekends in spring and summer, when the National Trust properties and Newark's Civil War attractions draw steady visitor numbers and rooms in both towns can fill up quickly.

Claypole itself is a place to unwind, but it sits within easy reach of some of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire's best-known historic attractions.

• National Civil War Centre, Newark — an award-winning museum in Newark-on-Trent exploring the 17th-century Civil Wars through original objects, costumes and interactive displays, with a town trail linking on to the castle.
• Newark Castle — a riverside ruin dating from the mid-12th century that withstood three sieges during the Civil War; the grounds and gardens beside the River Trent are open to wander for free.
• Belton House, Grantham — a National Trust Carolean mansion from the 1680s set in 1,300 acres of formal gardens and ancient deer park, around 30 minutes' drive south.
• Woolsthorpe Manor — the modest farmhouse near Grantham where Sir Isaac Newton was born and later developed his ideas on gravity, complete with the descendant of his famous apple tree.
• Belvoir Castle — a grand stately home on the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border, seat of the Duke of Rutland, with formal gardens and regular events across the year.
• Grantham town centre — a handsome market town with a historic core, independent shops and the parish church of St Wulfram, one of the tallest medieval church spires in England.

The heart of the village is The Five Bells Inn on Main Street, a traditional brick and pantile pub with a large public bar, a small lounge and restaurant, and a strong local ale selection including guest beers from Lincolnshire microbreweries. It also offers a handful of rooms for overnight stays. Beyond the village, Newark and Grantham both have a good spread of independent cafes, restaurants and pubs to suit most tastes.

Claypole and its surrounding Kesteven countryside are flat, fertile Lincolnshire farmland rather than dramatic wilderness, but the area still has appeal for campers looking for a peaceful rural base. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is not legal without the landowner's explicit permission, so pitch only at a proper campsite or with a farmer or landowner's agreement — this part of Lincolnshire is almost entirely worked agricultural land, and informal camping is neither practical nor welcome. Instead, look to the established caravan and camping sites dotted around Newark, Grantham and the wider Trent valley, many of which offer touring pitches, tent space and electric hook-ups within easy reach of the village.

The terrain around Claypole is gentle and low-lying, criss-crossed by quiet lanes and drainage dykes, which makes for easy, unhurried cycling and walking rather than strenuous hill country. This makes it a good option for families or those wanting a relaxed camping trip built around visits to Newark Castle, Belton House or Belvoir Castle rather than the outdoor activity itself. The best camping season here runs from late spring to early autumn, when the days are longer and the surrounding gardens and country estates are at their most rewarding to visit; the flat, exposed farmland can feel bleak and the ground can turn heavy underfoot once the Lincolnshire winter sets in.

For those who would rather not pitch a tent, glamping options in the wider Newark and Grantham area range from simple wooden pods to more comfortable shepherd's huts and safari tents, offering a warmer, more sheltered alternative while still keeping Claypole and its Civil War and stately home attractions within a short drive.